A gust of wind caused Kate's dress to blow up as she greeted a littl girl [Max Mumby]

Kate was in Canary Wharf to attend a Place2Be event [PA]

Kate, who is royal patron of the charity listened to health and education experts, including Professors Stephen Scott and Tanya Bryon discussing issues such as cyberbullying self-harm and addiction - and key ways to build resilience and emotional strength in children.

British children lag worryingly behind their counterparts in many European countries when it comes to wellbeing. The UK ranks only 16th out of 29 developed countries in a table of childhood wellbeing.

We truly value her shared passion and commitment to supporting children's mental health.

Benita Refson, chief executive of Place2Be

"Life can be tough for children for all sorts of reasons - from entrenched issues such as neglect and abuse, through to facing family breakdowns and loss - and it's critical that children have someone to turn to who will listen."

She added: "Tough topics were covered today; but it was hugely inspiring and encouraging seeing experts from educational and mental health uniting in their passion to tackle problems affecting children, and a shared vision of hope and prosperity for our future generation."

Kate was so badly bullied as a child that she moved schools to escape her tormentors, according to some of her contemporaries.

Since joining the Royal Family she, has signalled her intent to help other victims.

As she arrived at the event today, Kate was greeted by nine-year-old Tierney Potter, who was chosen by her teachers at St Edmunds School in Tower Hamlets, London, to present a posy of roses.

Tierney, who did not know she was going to be presenting the posy until she arrived at the venue this morning, said: "I was nervous but excited. The Duchess said she wanted to say hello to the rest of the class, so I took her inside."

The Duchess took her place in a conference theatre where Ms Refson, the chief executive, told the audience: "Childhood and adolescence is a vulnerable time.

Kate was shielded by an umbrella as she arrived at the conference [REUTERS]

"Trauma, domestic violence, family breakdown, substance abuse and the impact of poverty all mean that children come to school with more than a satchel on their back. The consequences can be devastating.

"For the cost of two coffees we can offer a child 15 minutes of uninterrupted time where they feel understood and supported. Children deserve to be given the stability to bounce back from life's adversities."

The Duchess, who also visited the charity's headquarters earlier this year, is said to have been a victim of bullying at the private Downe House school in Berkshire, which she left after just two terms to attend Marlborough College in Wiltshire.

Kate stayed at the conference longer than expected as she became engaged in the discussions [FLYNET]

She decided to stay at the conference longer than expected today after becoming so engaged in the discussions regarding addiction and self-harm.

After the first two talks of the day, Kate enjoyed singing from the children of St Edmund's Primary School in Tower Hamlets.

After they sang hits such as "The World's Greatest" by R Kelly, she congratulated them on their singing.

They cried "yes" when she asked them: "Have you been practising?" She added: "Thank you so much."

Speaking of Kate's own childhood, Susan Cameron, the former headmistress of Downe House, suggested the Duchess was "teased" during her time there, and was "unsettled and not particularly happy".

Place2Be works with 75,000 children in more than 200 schools in some of the most deprived parts of Britain.